Trailer



TRAILER Filed Nov. 30, 1921 5 Shams-:Sheet l,

nucmtor HENQV WENN Boa@ bg @milla/5. u

.June H9, i923.

H. WENNEBORG TRAILER Filed Nov. 30. 1921 .www HLM 5 Smets-Sheet 42 Mdm @AA @A June H9, H923. HASQE H. WENNEBORG TRAILER Filed Nov. .50, 1921 3 Sheets-heet 5 Patented d1une IQ, i923. f

entren/erratas atraen tentant oretta.

HENRY WENNEBURG, 0F SPRINGFIELD, IIJIIINOISASSIGNOR OIE' ONE-HALF T0 ENOS S. SEPINDEL, OF SPRINGFIELD; ILLINOIS.

Taarten. 1

Application led November 30, 1921. Serial No. 518,936. l

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, HENRY `Wmvmaisons., a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Sangamon and State oit Illinois, have invented a new and useful Trailer, of which thefollowing is a rr` specitication.

. 'lhe invention relates to trailers used by tourists in conjunction with automobiles, to carry equipment, supplies and baggage which cannot be carried conveniently in the vehicle.

The purposes of the invention are to provide a trailer having a body in the form of a boat comprising two sections hinged together so that when extended the boat may be used 'to navigate on water; to provide means for water-tight connection of the extended boat sections; to provide means for covering the openings at the hinged ends of the boat sections and the openings between the longitudinal edges of the Jfolded boatV sections, to exclude rain and dust; to proride supporting springs and securing de; vices adjacent to each end of the lower-section to absorb shock and prevent rattling of the rrtrailer while traveling on the road; to provide in each boat-section, a stowage compartment and a water-tight closure for each compartment; to provide a 'truck having a swivel connection with the towing vehicle; to provide means for easily and quickly at- "taching the truck to the vehicle; to provide means for raising and extending 'the upper boat-section; to provide means for facilitating the detaching the boat from the truck;

and to provide other new and useful structural features.

The invention is illustrated in the annexed drawings to which reference is hereby made.'

Figure lis a side elevation of a trailer embodying my, invention, shown in connection with an automobile;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan of the extended trailer-body, the supporting wheels and the draft-gear being omitted;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section through the trailer-body on the line 3:-3 of Fig. Il`

Fig is a horizontal section on the line -Ll of Fig. l, showing the draft-'gear and` ypart of the yoke, the trailer-body being omitted; f

rig. 5 is e sie@ elevation or the arranged trailer and shows means for raising-the upy per section 'of the trailer-body while it is being extended; I

F ig. 6 is an enlarged fragmental vertical section on the line 6--6 of Fig. 2, showing details of the means for water-tight connection of the united sections of the trailerbody;

Fig. 7 is aihorizontal section on' the line w7 7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8is anenlarged side elevation. of 'the fifth-wheel and swivel sleeve;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section through the fifth-wheel and swivel sleeve, taken 0n the line 9--9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. l() is a perspective view of one axle clip used to connect the draft-gear of the trailer with the axle or' the towing vehicle;

Fig. ll is an enlarged side elevation of the standard which supports the forward end of the trailer-body; j v

F ig. 12 is an enlarged top view of one of the adjustable hinges used to connect the sections of the`trailer-body Fig. 13 is an enlarged vertical Section through one water-tight compartment of the the upper section of the trailer-body.

The.same reference numerals designate the same parts in all the views.

Briefly stated, the trailer comprises runnin gear connected with the towing vehic e, a yoke carried by the running gear, a body supported on the yoke and consisting of two boat sections having hinge con` nection with each other,-springs fore and aft, Ayieldingly supporting 'the body and other minor details of construction as will hereinafter more fully appear.

The body comprises an upper section 2O and a lower section 21 connected by hinges 22. The body when extended is preferably,

but not necessarily, in theform of. a boat as shown in Fig.

Fach of the hinges 22 comprises a mem: ber 28 secured'on one body-section, and a member 2thaving a longitudinal slot 25 t accmnilodate a; bolt 26 connecting the n 34 are attached. The strap 33 extends up' around the section 20 and is con'l ,secured on the draw bar 39.

member 24 withA the other section so that the hinge member 24 will be. capable of longitudinal adjustment on the section to which it is attached, to admit of clamping the ends of the sections together to make a water-tight joint, by means to be described later. f

rl`he yoke, on which the section 21 is mounted, consists of a metal bar of rectangular cross-section VV(Figs. 1 and/3) `bent to form a member 27 having ways 28 accommodating rollers .29 rotative on spindles 30; upwardly-extended members 31 parallel to the sides of the section; and lateral extensions 32, to which straps 33 and wardly nected withthe strap 34 by a buckle 35.

The trailer-body 20-21 is mounted on leaf-springs 36 which' are permanently at tached to anaxle 37 which, is supported by suitable wheels 38. A draw bar 39 is connected with the axle by a strap 40. Braces 41 connect the 1draw bar with the axle. A standard 42 is'iixed in a block 43 which is A collar 44 xed on the standard 42 supports a spring I45 coiled around the standard. Perforated plates 46 and 47 ixed on the respective body sections 20 and 21 are supported on the springI 45 and have free vertical movement on the standard 42 so that the spring makes a yielding support for'the forward ends of the body section. The standard 42 and the spring 45 are ofsuch length that the united body sections supported by thespring will normally occupyAV an approximately horizontal position in Iorder. that the trailerbody may, if desired, be used as a cornfortable sleeping apartment. A cotter pin 48 extends through the standard 42 and pre` vents accidental upward movement of the plates 46 and 47. The draft-gear includes a fifth-wheel comprising a circular base 49 and a sleeve 50 rotative on the base and connectedV therewith by a stud 51 integral with the sleeve 50, so that the sleeve will swivel on the plate 49. The' longitudinal bore 52 of the sleeve is adapted to receive the draftbar 39. ,The sleeve 50 has alsoan eye 53 receiving a cord 54 used to connect the fifth-wheel with the towing vehicle so that it will not'drag on the ground when the draft-gear is disconnected from the vehicle.

`The draft-bar 39 swivels in the bore 52 so that the Wheels 38 may readily adapt them selves to dierent inclinations of the road on which, the trailer is traveling. Braces 55 are permanentlyattached to the plate 49- and have at their free' ends eyes to reeive bolts 56 Hexibly connecting the braces with `axle clips 57 detachably connected with the ,f

axle 58 of the towing vehicle.

At the free end of each of the body sechf tions20 and 21 is 'a water-tight compart- Mee/,sai

ment for stowage of provisions, ice, etc. which it is desired to protect from heatand dirt. Except asv-to shape, the compartments are exactly alike; so will sufice for both.

length of and completely across the body section and has on its under side rubber gaskets 63 which engage on the upper surface of the Wall 59 and on the upper surface of the bars 61. Hinges `64 connect the cover 62 with the bar 60. A latch 65 attached 'to the cover 62 engages in the wall of the body section to hold the gaskets on the under-side of the cover 62 in close contact with the bars 60 and 61 t0 form water tight connection ot the cover with the Walls of theI compartment.

The means forming water tight juncture of the body sections 20 and 21` comprise a relatively wide flanged plate 66 attached to one Jbody section and extending across the space between the -ends of the body sections and preventing the gasket from being forced inwardly by water pressure; and a narrower flanged plate 67 parallel to the flanged plate 66. The plates 66 and 67 extend practically the full heighth and the full width of the inner side walls and the bottom4 of the body section. A rubber gasket 68 fills the spacev va description of one rllhe sidewalls of thel body section constitute the side walls oficoy gasket 68 between the adjacent ends oit the 'y body section and form water tight connec tion of the body sections. Plates -70 secured on the sections 26 and 21"supportthe seat.

rlhe seat is transverse tothe body and com-J prisestwo sections 71 and 72 connected by hinges 73. Section 72 is stationary in the body section 21 and the section 71 folds downward against the section 72, when the f vboat section 20`is folded' on the boat section 21. ,'lio protect the contents of the trailer-body tromwdust and rain, li provide an end curtain 68-buttoned en a detachable strap, (not shown), extending around the sections 20 and 21 and a longitudinal curta1n^69 secured on the inside of and extendmg along both sides and across one end of Ithe body-section 20 and buttoning on stationary carriage knobs ,77 or similar connectlng devices on the body-section 21.

lin practice it is desirable to raise the lpper section 2O and swing it outwardly and i neeaeai downwardly so that one end oit the section 20 may rest onthe ground while the section 21 is still on the yoke-member 27 in order that when the forward end of the body section 21 is raised, the running gear may be pulled from under the section and' it may e placed on the ground in position for coinlete water tight connection of the sections by means already described. To facilitate the handling of the uppermost body-section, l provide an eye 74 stationary on the outer wall of the body-section 20; ll also provide an oar 76 having in its handle a stout hook 75 adapted to engage in the eye 74: so that` the oar may be used as shown in lFig. 5 .to raise and steady the body-section 2() while the body is being detached tromA the yoke as already described.

lin use the axle clips'? will be secured on the axle ot1 the `towing vehicle; the braces 55 having been previously attached to the base plate 49 will be connectedwith the axle clips by the bolts 56; the sleeve 50 will be connected with they late 49 so that the sleeve will swivel on` the p ate; the draw-bar 39 will be inserted in the sleeve; a cotter pin 39a will be inserted through a hole in the drawbar to `prevent it from pulling out of the sleeve; the body 21 will be placed on the rollers 29 and pushed forwardly until it occupies the position shown in `Fig. 1 and theV forward end of the body-section will rest on the spring l5 and the springs 36 and will absorb' shocks so that the trailer will run smoothly and the articles in the folded body-sections will not be displaced. 1f it be desired todetach the draft-gear from the t'th wheel it will only be necessary to tie the cord 54 on some convenient part of the towing vehicle to supportthe `sleeve150 in aV horizontal position so that upon withdrawing the cotter pin 39a the draw-bar may be pulled out of thesleeve and may be manipu- Tlgited to facilitate demounting ofthe trailerody.

l do not restrict my claims to the precise construction` shown and described, since it is obvious that minor modifications may be made within therscope of the claims.

Having fully described my invention what'A 1 claim as new and desire to ters Patent is:

1. ln a trailer, the 'combination of running gear; a centrally depressed yoke carried by the running gear; rollers in the depressed part of the yoke; a lower boat secsecure by Lettion adapted to travel on the rollers in .the

depressedyoke; an upper boat section inverted on the lower boat section; means connecting ,both boat sections with the yoke; and a yielding supporton the running gear supporting one end of the tions.

2. In a trailer,- the combination of a trailer body comprising associated boat sections united boat sec- .di'splacement thereof.

eachopen at one end; running gear coniprising an axle, a single straight reach rigidly! connected with the axle; leali springs secured on the axle, a' yoke attached to said leaf springs and supporting the rear part ot the trailer body, lilith wheel having a swivel connection with the reach, a sten ardhxed on the reach between the iifth wheel and the axle and a spring on the standard; supporting the forward end of the associated boat sections and acting to prevent rattling of the parts.

3. A trailer comprising an axle, supporting wheels, leaf-springs on the axle, a drawbar attached to the axle; a dfth wheelY connectedwith the draw bar; a standard ,dxed

on the draw bar between the ilth wheel and the axle; hinged body-sections supported on said leaf-springs and extending forwardly and yielding-ly supported on said standard; and a strap surrounding bothv body-sections and preventing accidental el. ln a'trailenthe combination of a body consisting of two o en end boat sections hinged together at t e gunwales; a removable curtain attached to and closing the adjacent ends of both boat sections; and a longitudinal curtain extending around both c sides and across the front ends of the boat sections; fasteners on the inside of the upper boat section and supporting the curtain; and fasteners on the outside of the lower boat section and engaged by ythe curtain in position to shed water outwardly."

5. A trailer-body comprising two openend boat sections having hinged.connection with each other, in combination with draftgear comprising leaf-springs supporting one end of the united sections and a standard and a coiled spring surrounding said standard and yieldingly supporting the other end of the united sections.

`t.: A trailer body comprising two boat sections, each open at one end from the keel to the gunwales; sections at plates inside herespective sections afdjacent to the ends hereof; a adjacent ends of said bolts connecting said angle plates and efcomplementalto each other and,

gasket between the` oat sections; and ,y

lll@

adjustable hinges uniting said the gunwalesv thereof angle fectiveto draw .them together to compress said gasket between the ends of the boat boat sections.

sections, to tormwater-tight juncture o? the- 7. lln a trailer, the! combination of I ning gear, a yoke on the runningY ear,` a lower boat section carried in the yoke and open at one end from the gunwales tothe keel an upper boat section, open at one end fromthe gunwales to the keel andl inverted on open ends/gf the boat sections; and hinges said lower boat section to form a'I covered apartment accessible through the lil@ mit the upper boat section to be extended4 right-side-up in line with the lower boat section. x

8. ln a trailer, a foldable and extensible trailer body comprising associated boat seetions each open at one end, to admit articles into the folded body; in combination with draft gear `eomprlsing an axle, supporting wheels, one reach connected with the axle, one ifth wheel detachably connected with the reach, leaf springs attached to the axle, a standard on the reach between Wheel and the axle, a yoke supported on` the lea-f springs and supporting the. rearward parts of the associated boat sections, and a coiled springsurrounding said standard and the ifth yieldingly supporting the forward parts of the associated boat sections.

9. 'A iftb wheel and connections comprising a bottom plate, a top plate swieled on the bottom plate and having' an integral sleeve, a reach extending through the sleeve of the top plate and a pin transverse to the reach and detachably connecting it with' the top plate.

lin witness whereof ll have hereunto signed my name at Springfield, Sangamon County,-llllinois, this 23rcl day of November, 1921. Y

HENRY WENNEBURG.

llVitnesses:`

Gmo. W. Kammer, lE. S. SrINcnrnr 

